My first duck hatched.....UGLY

[Lacrystol]

OK he dried off, I don't think he got much better, ha ha ha.... He also have 3 others that FINALLY came out today to join him. I don't know what kind of ducks they are, I'm thinking mallards.. But Here's the gang.

YES, Now I have 4 UGLY Ducklings... ha ha ha

I need some Duck advice from anyone, what do I do next? They keep jumping in the water bowl, it's nice and warmy, but I'm consently changing it because they make a mess in it. I also have been feeding them chicken starter that's medicated, should they be getting that? I have no clue how to take care of my ugly ducklings. Are they allowed to swim at this young age??? it's is really safe?? Should the water be warm or cold? How long should I keep them in the incubator, they keep raising the humidity.. Will they be OK with the baby chicks that I hatched out two days before these guys?

Help me to help these ducks look better. ha hahaha

 

[cottagechick]

Ok..they are actually pretty cute now...did their beaks shrink? They look alot smaller..

 

[Lacrystol]

No there bodies just puffied up.. HA HA HA

 

[froggie71]

Aww they are cute! Looks like mallard x Swedish cross maybe. Medicated chick starter won't hurt them. They may need to get extra niacin though. As far as the water. As long as it is available (which it should always be whenever food is available) they will be in it. Water should be deep enough so they can get bill in it too keep clean, but not so deep they can swim in it. They can be moved to brooder as soon as dried off. They can be raised with chicks, but they will get them wet as well as getting themselves wet. The water does not need to be warm, but they will need to be able to dry off under a heat lamp. After a week we learned to remove both food and water overnight so they don't soak themselves. They can swim, but need to be supervised. Since they do not have mothers to oily their feathers they could get too wet and not be able to get out of the water. They also will need to be dried after swimming whether by the sun, towel and hair dryer, then under heat lamp. Good luck. Ducklings are so cute and fun.

 

[Lacrystol]

so the chicken starter isn't bad for them? Ok I have to find a different water source because they keep jumping in to go swimming. They are still in the incubator because they won't fully dry off because they keep going into the water.. I can tell I'm already to have problems with these ugly things..

 

[SkyWarrior]

Quote:
OMG, they're CUTE!!!! How could you call them ugly?

It's natural for ducks to go into the water. You won't need to keep them in a brooder longer than 3 weeks. Feed them unmedicated chick starter or waterfowl feed.

If you really hate them, ship them to me! I love ducks!

 

[mhwc56]

not real experienced with breeds but i'm pretty sure those are not mallards since mallards have 1 or 2 eye stripes.
I'm thinking you have Blue Swedish which is a lovely duck variety .
VERY CUTE ducklings BTW

 

[Edwards' East of Eden]

These babies are beautiful and don't you make me come over there.


Wait, wait, no. You're absolutely right. These are the ugliest things I've ever seen, and I think it's totally unfair - and, cruel, yeah, CRUEL, even - that someone is making you look at them every day.

You should find someone you can rook into taking them so you don't have to see them anymore.

...What's your address, again?

 

[Impress]

Seriously.

Those beaks are to die for, do love!

 

[cottagechick]

They look like they should be hanging out with Frodo under a toadstool.